Chapter 16: Fortunately, I Am Naturally Suspicious

The blood-red eyes glowed like lanterns. Towering more than thirty feet tall, the figure stood imposingly, radiating an overwhelming sense of pressure.

“Two humans? Such audacity,” a thunderous voice roared, shaking the entire mountain range. “Which sect from Qingzhou do you belong to? Dare to meddle in the immortal fortunes of the Hundred Broken Mountains? Do you wish to be wiped out?”

Their confidence was well-founded. With cultivation at the ninth level of the Bitter Sea Realm, in a small place like Qingzhou, they could easily dominate all challengers.

They assumed that Leng Xuewei and Qin Ming were merely reckless youths who had stumbled into this place by accident.

Seeing the two remain silent, the five demon commanders snorted coldly, exhaling white smoke like pillars of steam from their nostrils.

After a brief pause, they lunged forward one after another. A fierce wind swept across the mountaintop.

Leng Xuewei’s face remained expressionless. A flash of light appeared at her waist, manifesting a jade-green ruler. A faint purple aura swirled around it, making it appear both extraordinary and powerful.

Gripping the ruler with her left hand, she suddenly swung it fiercely at the empty space ahead.

Immediately, a cascade of azure light descended, striking two of the demon commanders. Two bursts of blood mist exploded midair.

The massive corpses crashed to the ground, creating deep craters and stirring up clouds of dust.

Leng Xuewei stepped forward, continuing her assault.

The scene was mesmerizing—a beauty striking with lethal intent, soft yet deadly, like a rose adorned with thorns.

Soon, the remaining three demon commanders were slain, their blood staining the jade-green ruler.

Qin Ming stood dumbfounded. Truly, she was a noble lady from the Immortal Mansion. To kill Bitter Sea Realm ninth-level beasts so effortlessly was astounding.

He grinned, picking up the corpses one by one and tossing them into his storage pouch, intending to refine them using the Nine-Dragon Heaven-Burying Cauldron.

These were formidable beasts of the Bitter Sea Realm, and there were five of them. Their essence would surely propel his cultivation to a new breakthrough, perhaps even forging the complete third drop of longevity blood.

At that moment, Leng Xuewei opened her jade hand. The World Calamity Root she held shimmered briefly before splitting swiftly into two, sinking into the foreheads of both Leng Xuewei and Jiang Han.

Even the formidable Leng Xuewei staggered, nearly losing her footing. Confusion flickered in her eyes before they dulled and her eyelids slowly closed.

Qin Ming suffered the same fate.

Then, a gentle laugh echoed.

The stormy clouds and flashing lightning that had shrouded the mountaintop suddenly dispersed, revealing a clear and bright sky.

There was no trace of clouds or lightning. Moreover, the once ravaged mountaintop, complete with deep craters, was now perfectly smooth—like a page of a painting turned to reveal an entirely different scene.

It had all been an illusion.

At this moment, a somber old man clad in hemp clothing approached. Suspended in midair beside him was a bell, within which countless vengeful spirits writhed.

Had Qin Ming and the others regained consciousness, they would have noticed that the five demon commanders who had attacked them were trapped within the bell.

The old man patted the storage pouch at his waist and smiled.

The contest for the World Calamity Root had long since concluded. The five demon commanders of the Hundred Broken Mountains had been slain by him and their essences absorbed into the Soul-Devouring Bell.

Sensing the arrival of intruders, he had preemptively used the bell to weave the illusionary trap to ambush them.

“This is interesting,” he murmured. “This woman’s strength is extraordinary—she must be from the Immortal Mansion.”

His gaze briefly flickered over Qin Ming but quickly withdrew.

Compared to the woman in the azure dress, the man was far inferior. Though they were of similar age, his talent and cultivation lagged significantly.

Had he not laid this trap in advance, he might not have been able to handle this young lady.

“The Purple Mansion’s Jade Ruler, and a beauty—ha! Both will be mine.” He chuckled darkly. “This woman’s constitution is rare; using her as a furnace would be immensely gratifying. As for this man, he has some talent but is utterly ordinary. Just enough for a meal.”

The old man snapped his fingers. A red, alluring seed flew swiftly into Leng Xuewei’s forehead.

Her skin flushed rapidly, her breath becoming heavy and fragrant.

The old man howled strangely and shoved a pill into his own mouth.

Just as he prepared to strip Leng Xuewei’s clothes, Qin Ming suddenly exploded into action, throwing a punch.

The undying Dao-born body was at work.

Though his punch seemed harmless, like that of an ordinary person, inside his body, a terrifying scene unfolded.

Blood roared and his Dao progressed rapidly.

“Hmm? Not caught by the Soul-Devouring Bell?” The old man’s heart skipped a beat.

But he quickly regained composure, a cold sneer curling his lips.

This person? He dared to kill him?

The old man extended a palm, aiming to end Qin Ming with a single strike.

“Bang!”

Fist met palm.

The old man’s hand tingled painfully as he was pushed backward by the tremendous force.

Before he could recover, Qin Ming closed in rapidly, kneeing the old man’s chest with a loud crack.

The old man staggered, his clothes torn apart by the force.

“Ah!” He howled furiously.

Qin Ming pressed two fingers together, preparing to unleash the second move of the Nine Heavens God-Slaying Technique.

“You’re a sword cultivator?” the old man sneered. “Using sword moves against me? How arrogant. Your opening strike is weak, and even if it were stronger, do you think your mere Soul-Building Realm could kill me? I’ll settle the score with you soon enough...”

But he never finished his sentence.

Before him, six solid swords materialized, radiating overwhelming ferocity.

The second move of the Nine Heavens God-Slaying Sword Technique: Abyssal Dragon!

Who’s technique starts with a big move? This young man was defying the heavens!

“Clang!”

The six fierce swords whistled down swiftly.

The old man waved his sleeve, dissolving four of them with great magical power.

But two still broke through, piercing his body.

Blood sprayed out in bursts.

The World Calamity Root hidden in the storage pouch was violently flung out.

Qin Ming leapt up, grabbing the pouch, but was struck by the enraged old man’s palm.

Terrifying power rampaged within him, threatening to shatter his bones, tendons, and even his vitality.

Yet, at this moment, two and a half drops of longevity blood roared within him, vitality surging forth, instantly suppressing the rampaging force.

In the end, Qin Ming suffered only minor injuries.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and using the momentum of being pushed back, he smashed into the Soul-Devouring Bell.

Though under assault, Qin Ming did not forget this precious treasure.

It was strange.

It had trapped Leng Xuewei in the illusion and prevented her escape.

If it were not for the discrepancy Qin Ming noticed during the refining of the five demon commanders’ bodies with the Nine-Dragon Heaven-Burying Cauldron—what he put in and what came out did not match—he would not have known this was an illusion.

And so, the previous scene had unfolded.

“Cauldron Master, can I refine something that already has an owner?” Qin Ming asked.

“As long as you temporarily suppress the owner’s mark, it can be refined,” came the calm response.

The cauldron spirit never interfered in Qin Ming’s affairs, only responding when called upon.

The balance of the heavenly way and karmic cause and effect meant many matters were not so easily meddled with.

Gritting his teeth, Qin Ming continued pounding the Soul-Devouring Bell, making it ring incessantly.

Finally, the bell trembled.

Qin Ming’s heart leapt—he had finally stunned the bell.

Immediately, he tossed it into the Nine-Dragon Heaven-Burying Cauldron.

Then, swiftly embracing Leng Xuewei, he dashed down the mountain path.

He kept close to the terrain, running toward the dense, lush forest.

This would maximize his safety and offer a faint hope of survival.

“Where do you think you’re running?”

The old man transformed, the mountain wind howling as a giant serpent appeared atop the peak.

As a powerful demon beast of the Hundred Broken Mountains, he could not believe that mere ants like humans had escaped.

And they had taken his woman and his treasure with them!

He had seen people clean things out before, but never had he seen someone so thoroughly plunder in such a dangerous situation.